Included in this newsletter

1. Upcoming events.
2. Featured Topic (Challenges)
3. Breaking news and current events
4. Water Bill Reminder
5. Tax Bill Reminder
6. Website updates
7. How to contact the District of Eidelweiss District office and the Commissioners.
8. Links to Commissioners and Committee Meeting minutes.

Upcoming events

• The Commissioners will not meet Tuesday, January 1, 2019
• Jan 18, 2019 7:00 pm First Public Hearing on 2019 Budget
• Jan 24, 2019 1:00 pm Asset Management meeting at the Eidelweiss Office
• Jan 25, 2019 7:00 pm Second Public Hearing on 2019 Budget
• Feb 23, 2019 VDOE Annual Meeting Voting 5pm to 7pm; deliberative session 7 pm.
• Every Tue. 8:00 amCommissioners meeting at the Eidelweiss District Office.

Challenges for VDOE

The year ends with continuing challenges that need to be resolved. The water system has the major issue of the Reinach tank replacement. Many other capital asset projects are required to insure system integrity. Our roads have constant needs for maintenance and repair. The website has substantial information about the Commissioners’ plans for warrant articles for 2019.

2018 overview

• Significant progress has been made in 2018 in improving the Village. Several of the projects completed in 2018 are listed as follows:
• 1,100 tons of gravel applied to Village roads with most gravel roads being addressed
  • Jungfrau=170 tons with replacement of two culverts
  • Klausen=65 tons
  • Eidelweiss Drive= 121 tons with the addition of a catch basin
  • West Bergamo=71 tons
  • Saint Moritz=60 tons
• Ditching on 11 roads, over 40 roads graded, raked and rolled
• Inspected and maintained all 196 culverts bringing the flow rate for all culverts to 80% to 100%
• Second booster pump installed at Muddy Beach
• Two 30,000 Reinach tanks were inspected
• Developed plans, specifications and bid document for the Reinach cast in place concrete tank
• The Summit Tank was inspected and lined
• Installation of security panels in pump houses-two remain to be installed
• All but three curb stop valves have been identified and plotted
• Asset Management process has worked to identify current and long-term capital needs

2019 Warrant Articles for the Water System

• The Commissioners will prepare a Reinach Tank Replacement warrant article for a concrete tank with a 90,000-gallon capacity to replace two steel tanks with a 60,000 capacity. The steel tanks were determined to need replacement and not suitable for relining. The warrant article will use an engineering cost estimate of $653,400. The December 4, 2018 bid opening resulted in one bid that was rejected by the Commissioners due to its high price. A survey of the potential bidders indicated that the lack of certainty of funding resulted in no interest in bidding.
• One warrant article will address the use of funds available in the existing bank loan. The Commissioners will request alternative projects to be covered under the loan. These projects are based on priority and risks to the system operation. The DPW electrical system needs substantial upgrades to avoid possible failure which would shut down the entire system and other improvements to meet code. Other projects include Summit pump house electrical update and the Chocorua pump house electrical update.
• One warrant article will request funding the Upper Lakeview pressure reducing valve from water fees. Other warrant articles cover additions to capital reserves. These reserves are essential in being able to replace or reline tanks or to repair or replace water lines in the future. Muddy Beach tank replacement warrant article will request funding from the Water Tank Capital reserve.
• Unfortunately, the major expenditure involved with the Reinach Tank Replacement will result in higher than recent water fees for the foreseeable future. A forecast is being prepared.
• 2018 water budget versus actual expenditures were tight. Most expenses were in line with budget except for repairs and heating costs.

2019 Warrant Articles for the Highway

• The Commissioners will recommend several warrant articles. All of which are to be funded, all or in part, by taxes. Replacement of the Ford F550 will be funded by a bank loan in the amount of $85,615. Gravel road repairs above the usual maintenance involve a cost of $7,275. Asphalt road shim cost for four roads cost is at $21,750. The replacement the inoperable York rack with a front runner rake will involve a cost $4.180. The Thusis project was modified as a result of a revised engineering design that relocated all drainage on to Village property. All work on this project is to be done by the DPW. The cost of the project is $3,425 with $2,010 coming from the balance in an existing warrant article and $1,415 from taxes. Grandval Way and Konstanz Road need an engineering evaluation to determine the scope of requirements to correct drainage, road surface conditions and removal of obstructions. This project cost is $25,000. The DPW garage needs operating floor drains to remove water from the floor. Drain and storage tank compliant with DES requirements cost to be determined by a bid.
• 2018 was a difficult year with a large number of ice storms in the early part of the year and above normal number of snow and ice storms in the end of the year.

Upcoming News Letter Focus Topic:

• 2018 Expenditures and additional information on the 2019 proposed Budgets and Warrant Articles

Breaking News and Current Events:

• Please keep in mind that it is a violation of NH Law to plow or push snow onto the roads. Driveway plow operators who push snow onto or across the roads narrow the travel surface and create extra work for the DPW.  Property owners are responsible to insure proper snow removal at their property.

 

Public Notice for the 2019 Annual Meeting

The following offices will be open to candidates at the Annual Meeting of the Village District of Eidelweiss on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Madison Elementary School

Commissioner                                 3 yr term

Commissioner                                  2 yr term

Treasurer                                           2 yr term

Clerk                                                   2 yr term

Anyone wishing to file for office may file with the Clerk between January 9^thand January 18^th.

Final date for submission of petitioned articles is January 18^th.

A Public Hearing for a bond for water system improvements in the amount of $653,400 will be held January 18^that 7:00 pm downstairs at the Madison Town Hall

A Public Hearing for a bond for purchase of a new truck in the amount of $85,615 will be held January 18^that 7:00 pm downstairs at the Madison Town Hall

Public Hearings on the Budget will be held downstairs at the Madison Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. on January 18^thand January 25^th(if needed).

The Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 23^rdat the Madison Elementary School.

Voting will be from 5 - 7 p.m. The deliberative session will begin at 7 p.m.

Rumors and corrections

There is a consistent rumor that the budgets are too high, spending is out of control and cuts should be made

• In 2002, the VDOE approved a budget for Highway & Streets/Salaries of $100,600.  This includes the line items of Full-Time Salary, Part-Time Salary, Overtime and On-call stipend.  For 2018, this category was approved on the budget in the amount of $100,460; a $140 reduction in available funds for salaries.
• Since 2002, health insurance costs have tripled.  In 2002, the VDOE approved a budget of $26,000 for Medical Insurance.  The proposed budget for 2019 is $57, 635.  Given that medical insurance rates experienced multiple years with a greater than 10% increase, current rates can be close to triple the rates of 2002 while the increase in the line item is not triple the 2002 value.

Water Bill Reminder: 

Any property with an outstanding water bill has been posted for service disconnection.

Tax Bill Reminder:

The second tax payment was due December 6, 2018. Please be aware that all 2018 tax increases for the County, School, Town and District are included with the second tax payment of the year.

Website updates

If you have photos of the district and would like to share them so that they may be included on the site, please send them to office@vdoe-nh.org.  We will review and select the best photos for use with the site.

How to contact the District office:

• The VDOE has an official website and sends out emails with emergency notifications. Be sure to visit the website at www.vdoe-nh.org and enroll.
• The VDOE has a “see something / say something” policy. Anyone who sees something suspicious or unusual should report it for the benefit of the VDOE community to the Madison Police at 603-367-8334 (non-emergency line).
• Office hours and guidelines have been added to the website to make it more convenient to schedule appointments with the District administrator. Click Here for Office Hours.

The office can always be contacted via email with questions, concerns and suggestions. Messages will be forwarded from the office to the commissioners. The email address is office@vdoe-nh.org

Links to Commissioners and Committee Meeting minutes:

• Commissioners Meetings
• Asset Management Committee Meetings: